Craig Zadan


Craig Zadan was an American producer and writer. Working alone and with Neil Meron, his partner in the production company Storyline Entertainment, he produced such films as Footloose, Chicago and Hairspray.

Life and career

Early life

Zadan was born in Miami, Florida. He grew up in New York City, and attended Hofstra University. He wrote for New York magazine and also contributed articles to publications such as After Dark. He co-produced a Broadway tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim: A Musical Tribute, featuring Angela Lansbury and Alexis Smith in 1973. He wrote a book relating the "behind-the-scenes" of the musicals of composer Stephen Sondheim titled "Sondheim & Co." published in 1974, which has been updated with a subsequent edition and revisions until 1990. Meron invited Zadan to speak at a lecture series at Brooklyn College, and they became professional partners upon Meron's 1976 graduation. They worked for Joseph Papp at the Public Theater before going to California in the early 1980s to work for Peter Guber. He was openly gay.

Storyline Entertainment

Storyline Entertainment has had success with film musicals, such as Chicago and Hairspray. Andrea McArdle, who originated the title role in Annie on stage, featured prominently in Zadan's televised version. Chita Rivera appears in Chicago as "Nickie"; she played "Velma Kelly" in the original 1975 production.
The film adaptation of Hairspray featured John Waters as "the flasher who lives next door;" Jerry Stiller as "Mr. Pinky;" and Ricki Lake as a reporter. On the soundtrack, Lake joins Nikki Blonsky and Marissa Jaret Winokur to sing "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" over the closing credits, and Harvey Fierstein can be heard briefly soon after. Mink Stole appears as the smoking woman on the street whom Waters flashes, and is also seen in the musical number, "Welcome to the 60s". Corey Reynolds appears on the soundtrack as singer of "Trouble on the Line."

Later career

Zadan and Meron produced the Academy Awards telecast from 2013 to 2015.

Death

Zadan died on August 20, 2018 at his home in Los Angeles of complications from shoulder replacement surgery at the age of 69.

Filmography

Series

In 2008, Zadan and Meron were awarded the Career Achievement Award by the Casting Society of America. He has been nominated for the Emmy Award eight times, along with his co-executive producer Meron.